Apparatus for ultraviolet light treatment of fluids

Abstract

A process is described, for treating liquids with radiation. One process involves passing the liquid over an ultraviolet lamp and ballast assembly which is submerged in the liquid. Apparatus for the process has an elongate frame member which is immersed in the liquid. Attached to the frame member and immersed in the liquid is a plurality of ultraviolet lamps and associated ballasts.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A radiation source assembly for use in a photochemical treatment of a fluid, comprising: 
       at least one radiation source adapted to be immersed in said fluid when the assembly is in use, the source producing radiation by excitation of a gas;  
       an excitation controlling means coupled to each radiation source for controlling excitation of the gas within the radiation source, each excitation controlling means being adapted to be immersed in said fluid to contact said fluid directly so as to be cooled by said fluid when the assembly is in use;  
       an elongate frame member having a portion adapted to be immersed in the fluid when the assembly is in use, the fame member being connected to at least one of the radiation source and the excitation controlling means; and  
       electrical conducting means coupled to the excitation controlling means for providing electrical energy to the excitation controlling means.  
     
     
       2. A radiation source assembly according to claim  1  wherein the radiation source is an ultraviolet lamp and the excitation controlling means is a ballast electrically connected to the ultraviolet lamp. 
     
     
       3. A radiation source assembly according to claim  2  in which the assembly further comprises an ultraviolet transparent sleeve for each ultraviolet lamp, each ultraviolet lamp being received by a correspond sleeve, said frame member being connected to at least one of a) an ultraviolet lamp, b) an ultraviolet-transparent sleeve; and c) a ballast. 
     
     
       4. A radiation source assembly according to claim  3  wherein the ultraviolet lamp is adjacent to the ballast. 
     
     
       5. A radiation source assembly according to claim  4  wherein the ballast is supported by said elongate frame member. 
     
     
       6. A radiation source assembly according to claim  5  for use in treating a liquid, wherein each ballast is elongate and has first and second opposed ends, the first end being mounted on said portion of the elongate frame member adapted to be immersed in the liquid, and wherein each lamp is elongate and has first and second opposed ends, the first end of each lamp being connected to the second end of a corresponding ballast. 
     
     
       7. A radiation source assembly according to claim  6  wherein the assembly comprises a second elongate frame member for supporting the second end of each lamp. 
     
     
       8. A radiation source assembly according to claim  6  wherein said elongate frame member is tubular with an outer wall and wherein there is, for each ballast, a support with an externally threaded tubular stub surrounding an access aperture through the outer wall, the ballast having an external retaining ring fixed adjacent the first end thereof, the assembly further comprising an internally threaded coupling for engaging the stub and the retaining ring, so as to move the stub and the ring toward each other, and a resilient sealing member between the stub and the coupling such that the retaining ring is pressed against the exterior of the excitation controlling means when the coupling is tightened. 
     
     
       9. A radiation source assembly according to claim  6  wherein each sleeve has one open end and one closed end, said radiation source assembly further comprising a coupling which sealingly supports the open end of each sleeve from the second end of the ballast. 
     
     
       10. A process for treating liquids with ultraviolet light comprising passing the liquid over a radiation source assembly according to claim  1  which is at least partially immersed in the liquid. 
     
     
       11. A radiation source assembly according to claim  1  wherein said electrical conducting means comprises a laminate having a plurality of elongated electrically conducting members, each member having a plurality of electrical connectors at spaced apart intervals along the member, said laminate having electrically insulating material between the members. 
     
     
       12. A radiation source assembly according to claim  11  wherein each electrically conducting member is sandwiched between two electrically insulating strips, at least one of the strips having notches at spaced apart intervals along the strip for receiving said connectors therein. 
     
     
       13. A radiation source assembly according to claim  11  wherein said connectors are spring clip connectors for connecting with electrically conducting pins. 
     
     
       14. A radiation source assembly according to claim  2  wherein the electrical conducting means includes, for each excitation controlling means, an electrical wire which extends from the excitation controlling means to a location which is not immersed in the fluid. 
     
     
       15. A radiation source assembly for use in a photochemical treatment of a fluid comprising: 
       at least one ultraviolet lamp for producing radiation by excitation of a gas;  
       a ballast coupled to each lamp and adapted to be immersed in said fluid to contact said fluid directly so as to be cooled by said fluid when the assembly is in use, each blast functioning to control the excitation of the gas within the corresponding lamp;  
       an ultraviolet transparent sleeve for each lamp, each sleeve receiving a respective lamp therein;  
       a submersible frame member having a portion adapted to be immersed in the fluid when the assembly is in use and having a plurality of supports, each support providing support for at least one of a) an ultraviolet lamp, b) an ultraviolet-transparent sleeve and c) a ballast; and  
       electrical conducting means coupled to the ballast for providing electrical energy to the ballast.  
     
     
       16. A radiation source assembly according to claim  15  further comprising a screw coupling for sealingly connecting each sleeve to a corresponding ballast. 
     
     
       17. A radiation source assembly according to claim  15  wherein the frame member contains said electrical conducting means and the ballast is removably coupled, electrically, to said electrical conducting means.